WEBVTT HAS BEENDIGGING DEEPER INTO THE STORYAND TELLS US WHY THE SENATORCOULD BE OUT MILLIONS OFDOLLARS.BRETT: ACCORDING TO RECORDSFILED AT THE CLERK'S OFFICE,SENATOR JAKE FILES IS FACINGNUMEROUS LAWSUITS TOTALING MORETHAN $2 MILLION.ACCORDING TO THIS COMPLAINTFILED IN MARCH BY THE FEDERALNATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATIONAGAINST JAKE FELLS.AGAINST HIM AND HIS BUSINESSPARTNERS, SEEKING TO FORECLOSEON A LOAN OF $1.58 MILLION.THE COMPLAINT CLAIMS THAT, THISLAWSUIT FOLLOWED -- FILED ISSEEKING MORE THAN $100,000.THEY HAVE DEFAULTED ON THEIRPAYMENTS FOR LAND AT FORT SMITH.A JUDGE JUST AWARDED AMERICANBUILDERS MORE THAN $70,000 FORUNPAID BILLS.THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR SAYSTAXPAYERS ARE OWED NEARLY$30,000.BUT NEVER DONE AT THE RIVERVALLEY.>> TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NODISSENT -- MISUNDERSTANDING, WESENT A LETTER REQUESTINGREPAYMENT OF THAT MONEY.>> AS OF NOW, NOTHING.NO RESPONSE.BRETT: WE LEARNED THAT THEPROJECT MANAGER FILED A POLICEREPORT CLAIMING THAT FILES OWESHIM FOR A BOTCHED ROOFING JOB ATTHIS APARTMENT COMPLEX.FILES DID NOT WANT TO TALK ONCAMERA BUT IN A STATEMENT SAIDIT IS A CONTRACTUAL DISPUTE ANDHAS NO PLACE IN THE CRIMINALSYSTEM.HE SAID HE'S COOPERATING WITHINVESTIGATORS TO PROVE IT.THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THECRIMINAL COMPLAINT.WHEN THE INVESTIGATION ISCOMPLETE, IT WILL BE UP TO THEPROSECUTOR TO DETERMINE IFCRIMINAL CHARGES SHOULD BEFILED.

In response the information below, Sen. Files provided 40/29 News with the following statement:

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"I am deeply disappointed that Mr. Lau chose to file a criminal complaint because he was dissatisfied with the final results of the type and color of his roofing shingles. This contractual dispute between my company and his real estate company, over roofing his apartment complex, is just that... a contractual dispute. I am cooperating with authorities in providing proof that this contractual dispute is just that and has no place in the criminal system. I look forward to addressing this matter and others before me in the proper forum at the proper time."

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In a police report filed last month, State Sen. Jake Files is accused of felony theft.

In the report, Lau says he hired FFH Construction, owned by Sen. Files, to repair hail damage done to the roof of the Huntington Chase Apartments. A property recently acquired by Mr. Lau.

Lau says in December of 2016 he paid FFH Construction more than $33,000 to purchase the shingles needed to fix the roof. Lau then says after he paid, no work was started on the property. After contacting Sen. Files, Lau says, that Files told him work would begin in January. According to his statement, Lau says no work began in January, but that Sen. Files continued to assure him that work would begin soon.

Lau then says on February 1st, 2017 he requested proof that the money paid to FFH Construction had been used to purchase the shingles. Lau says as of now, he still has not received the proof of purchase.

Lau says on February 8th, 2017 work was started on one of the buildings in the complex. The repairs on that building were complete, according to Lau, but he says that Sen. Files told him there was a delay on getting the rest of the work done because the shingle supply company didn't have anymore of the shingles they needed. Mr. Lau says he again asked for proof of purchase of the shingles, and that was never shown.

Mr. Lau says he had arranged a meeting with Sen. Files on February 10th, 2017 at Home Depot to check on the status of the remaining shingles, but says Files never showed.

Lau says that at some point Sen. Files subcontracted the job to another company, top Notch Roofing. Lau says he was told they too could not get the matching shingles used on the already completed building, but that they could get shingles that would match the ones already used. Lau agreed and says work was finished on the second building, but that the shingles did not match. Lau says he then informed Sen. Files and Top Notch Roofing that those shingles were not going to work.

Then, on February 13th, 2017, Lau says Top Notch Roofing delivered 170 squares of the wrong shingles to the jobsite. Mike Ray, with Top Notch Roofing, says he was told that Sen. Files had purchased the shingles. Mr. Lau says he ordered the return of the shingles and reached out to the shingle company to discuss the purchase of the shingles. According to Mr. Lau the shingle company claimed Sen. Files had purchased the shingles from him, but wrote a hot check.

Mr. Lau says when he asked for his money back that Sen. Files told him he did not have it.